New Pioneer DMH-WC6600NEX flush mount install

Got lucky and found a 6600 from my local stereo shop, waiting on my maestro RR2 kit to arrive tomorrow to install. Just have a few questions.

1. has there only been a few people not satisfied with the mic that comes with the radio? Is it better to just use the stock? If so, what adapter must be purchased.

2. the more I think about it I may be purchasing a front camera for when I’m out off-roading and can’t see in front of me, what model camera are you guys going with and will it require any other parts to also work with OEM rear camera?

any other tips/advice for getting the most out of this headunit would be appreciated. Pretty pumped up for the install.

 

@WickedAx makes a Tombit mic adapter. I have one I haven’t installed yet. You can have it if you replace it once he has more. I’m stalled out on the non-urgent work, the optics are bad if I work on the truck during daytime hours.

For now I use the pioneer mic in a foam sandwich in the OEM mic spot in the overhead console. Works fine, wasn’t too hard to run under the headliner and down the pillar. Other options are OEM mic w tombit or Enfig mic in OEM location. I didn’t see much value in the Enfig option since you still have to run the wire in the headliner and it doesn’t quick disconnect so it’s kind of a bit of cash for square vs round? Maybe the Enfig snaps in clean? Still not sure it’s worth the $.

I got my Germes front camera kit from the Taco Garage. It’s way better than the OEM reverse cam as far as clarity and resolution. Germes isn’t essential with the Pioneer but it’s nice to have. @svermilyea agrees on that. The other camera people like is Natika. It was sold out at the time I bought. I’m not sure what the brand is of the camera FreshMexTaco got for the kits but it gets thumbs up from me.

For the front camera wiring I like a quick disconnect at the grille and then the non waterproof stuff inside the cab so I bought a 6 pin extension to make that happen.

 

Just as side note, I have tried my Natika front camera both ways. I have wired it direct to the second camera input on the WC6600 and using the GERMS Labs controller. Both camera options are much clearer than the stock reverse camera. The GERMS Labs controller is much more user friendly when trying to enable the front camera on the fly. In my opinion it is worth the extra few bucks to switch on the front camera by double tapping the mode button on the steering wheel, vice fumbling around with the head unit.

 

thanks guys for the help.

So I just looked on the thetacogarage and there out of stock on the kit. But Amazon has the Natika front camera and will arrive tomorrow if I order. Is the rear camera that bad to where it’s gonna get annoying with the aftermarket headunit? Reason I ask is I have a dual swingout and have my oem rear camera relocated. Would suck to have to install new camera and rerun wiring lol

 

The rear camera is acceptable. It is just not as sharp as the Natika cam.

 

I linked a different mic a few posts back. I had bad luck with the Pioneer microphone. The call quality was terrible for people on the other end. My wife said she can’t even tell I’m driving with the new one. Both were/installed in the overhead console.

 

It is hard for me to believe that my wife is more accommodating than anyone else’s wife but maybe I just got lucky (with the microphone)

you can get the Germes kit from elsewhere. Also, I have tons of the camera connectors since it’s the same as the DIR uses so custom harness for any 6v camera is an option. I get maybe 1% annoyed at camera quality with the OEM rear camera and I’d be fairly tempted if I were mounting it elsewhere.

 

This morning I ended up just ordering a Natika camera off of Amazon, didn’t hesitate since it will be here tomorrow, same time I’m expecting the maestro haha

 

Yeah it snaps in and fills the whole space. Watch my video explaining it and you'll see.

Reading all this stuff about cameras makes me want to get one.

 

Was able to get my headunit installed today. Still have a few things to work out. I can here video but I’m not see it so need to see what’s going on with that, need to get mic installed, front camera finished up, usb connected and get Navi antenna in a permanent spot.

 

So today I was able to get the mic, front camera and gps antenna all wired up. Turned the radio on and started playing with it. A few more questions.

without WiFi or hotspot I’m guessing there’s no way to get the remaining features on the headunit? Would the hotspot always have to be on to get the most out of the headunit?

even in park I am not able to watch anything (YouTube, movies) usb or hdmi suppose to be connected?

 

Hotspot - I use a dedicated vehicle hotspot. Mine powers through the OBDII port, but any wireless hotspot will work.

Video Bypass - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMzO0ADI3bQ

 

Damn. I don’t have hotspot. Looks like I’ll be changing my current plan today

 

Despite the fact that most modern cellphones can generate a hotspot, the issue remains that Wireless Carplay requires use of your WiFi connection and bluetooth connection, so it can not use the hotspot on your phone. The other option is to use your phones hotspot and use bluetooth audio rather than carplay. Most of the internet related functionality of the WC6600 is pretty pointless in my opinion, as my phone sends me all the alerts I generally need. Carplay does the rest.

 

So what does the hotspot do for you? Allows wireless streaming of video direct to the Pioneer while phone is CarPlay’d?

 

Yea this is where I’m a little lost, guy at the stereo shop told me when I purchased the radio I would need a hdmi cable from the headunit to my phone in order to watch movies, also was told I’ll need to wire up the bypass. But, I’m also seeing that I need hotspot. I have a iPhone11 so calling at&t to add my hotspot today. Doing so will also enable my wifi on the headunit and allow more features and video correct?

 

I think hdmi would be one alternative to Bluetooth for viewing phone content on the pioneer. I assume that would then allow CarPlay for nav. But you’d have to plug in which is the bummer.

 

Yea that’s what I was thinking also. But that would defeat the “wireless” concept lol

 

In my case, the only thing I use the hotspot for is my families wifi devices. Like I said, the things the WC6600 use wifi for are pretty useless, unless your device is jailbroken, then you can use a mirror function and anything you play on the iphone will play on your headunit.

 

I have a Google Chromecast with remote connected to the HDMI in. I use my phone's hotspot. Oh and my Sega Genesis classic too! So many options and so much fun!